October 31, 2005 Source: Wilfrid Laurier University:
http://www.wlu.ca/news_update.php?grp_id=28&nws_id=986&filter_type=update Laurier PhD candidate evaluates the impact of Environmental Information Systems Geography and environmental studies PhD candidate Abednego Aryee has received a $19,000 Doctoral Research Award from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The IDRC is a Canadian Crown corporation that collaborates with researchers from the developing world in building healthier environments and more equitable and sustainable societies. Aryee, who hails from Ghana, is evaluating the impact of Environmental Information Systems (such as remote sensing and global positioning systems) on community-based resource management. His research also includes collecting socio-economic data, which involves conducting personal interviews and studying community-based knowledge systems (including oral traditions) to examine such things as agro-forestry management and biodiversity conservation. Economic pressure has meant a reduction in many native trees in Ghana, including mahogany and acacia, which has also resulted in a reduction of traditional wild food species. According to Aryee, some farmers try to preserve rare plant species on their farms and use others for medicinal purposes. Also, plants have uses that have not been discovered because "we have not yet collected absolute knowledge of all the plant and animal species." Aryee says that technology such as remote sensing and positioning systems can identify where logging is taking place and where soil is being eroded. Degraded areas can be identified, but stopping the degradation or reversing it can be difficult "because local knowledge, interests and aspirations are not effectively integrated" into the decision-making process. For example, there could be issues with boundaries, and differences of opinion on whether a resource should be used or protected. Already there are three programs in Ghana that apply Environmental Information Systems for agro-forestry management and biodiversity conservation, including PLEC (People, Land Management and Environmental Change – a United Nations program), the UNDP/Ghana Capacity 21, and the Netherlands Tropenbos (tropical forest). Part of Aryee’s research is to evaluate their effectiveness. "Nobody knows how effective or efficient these programs are," he says. "Very little effort has been made to understand the context, the needs, skills and expectations of marginalized communities," says Aryee. "My study will address these concerns through helping to develop a set of human resource and socio-economic guidelines and indicators for the effective application of environmental information systems in community-based resource management." Barry Ries,
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